Spurs won’t be fined for resting stars

OAKLAND — Though the Spurs have chosen to rest 37-year-old team captain Tim Duncan and 36-year-old two-time All-Star guard Manu Ginobili for Thursday’s game against the Warriors, the team is in no danger of being fined by the league.

Last season when the Spurs’ big three, plus starting guard Danny Green, were held out of a nationally televised game against the Heat in Miami, NBA Commissioner David Stern fined the team $250,000, but a league spokesperson said the club will not be penalized this season.

The Spurs informed the league early Thursday that coach Gregg Popovich was considering resting both Duncan and Ginobili.

When the decision was finalized the team informed NBA vice-president for basketball operations Rod Thorn and issued a statement that both players would sit out the nationally televised game.

Because they followed league protocols there was no danger of being fined again.

All-NBA point guard Tony Parker had been declared out earlier because of a right shin contusion that forced him from Monday’s game against the Clippers in Los Angeles.

The Spurs play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday in San Antonio. It will be their seventh game in 10 nights, all seven following travel days.